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Do adult children lie about being sexually abused as children?
I am desperate for help. Last summer my world fell apart when my 26 year old daughter send me a message that her father had molested her for years as a child. I was shocked. The thought of that made me sick and I had never seen any signs but I didn't want to be that stupid mother that calls her daughter a liar. She claims I knew because I asked her so many times if anyone had touched her inappropirately but I was just trying to be a good mother and would never ever ignore such a thing. My grown son says he never saw anything but wholeheartedly believes his sister as this is the first time she has ever given him any attention at all. Of course my husband of 30 years denies any wrongdoing and I can't believe he is capable but thats what all say. We had a good life and their childhood seemed pretty idyllic to me but when my daughter turned 16 she started to be very hostile and through high school and college hated us more and more, especially me. Now she says this is the reason for the hate and it does make sense. Its the perfect storm. I dont know what to think or do and have lost both my children at this point. Initially I did offer to go to the police with her or to individual or family counseling or to confront him together but she refused to do anything said she just wanted me to know. I don't know what to do and there doesn't seem a solution. My husband is rightfully hurt that I am not 100% behind him and I have tried because I don't believe he could or would do that to his daughter but I'm so scared of being wrong."
First I want to say that I am very sorry that you are having to go through this, its an awful position to be in. I am a 52 y/o male who was abused by an older brother from the age of about 9-11. I was also abused by one of his friends as well and often at the same time. Just my opinion but I would believe your daughter 100%. For her to come forward and being this to light took a lot of strength. We "the abused" know that once we say something we risk being turned on by those who are suppose to love us. I didn't confront my brother until the past few years. It was brought up at my mothers funeral and since that day I haven't spoken to any of my siblings. "He is crazy" is what they are saying. That's ok with me though, it was a secret that I felt ashamed of and why should I feel shame. And yes, my brother is the Golden Child, no one would ever believe he could do something like this. HE DID and he did it to ME!
This also caused problems with my mother and myself. I think we get upset because we believe they were suppose to protect us when we are kids and they failed. I went to counseling for years and my doc ask me what good would it do to tell my mother, it was so long ago that I should just forget it. Unfortunately I can't forget it. Putting it plainly, it messed me up real bad. I did confront my mother and she denied knowing anything.. Somehow I still don't believe her because it stopped as suddenly as it started.
If you don't mind my giving advice. Have you confronted your husband? If he loves you and your daughter he should be willing to take a lie detector test. I know sounds kinda crazy, but if I could get my brother to take one, my name would be clear. Perhaps she could take one also... Its such a delicate subject its really hard to say.
People also worry...What if he takes the test and fails. Will he do something bad to himself? My family would rather call me a liar than face the fact that we have an abuser in the family. Its easier to support him than it is me. The reason, well, "we don't do that in this family"... we did and I am paying the price. From reading your story, I understand your daughters anger etc..... I don't think she is angry with you as much as she is the situation. She has her guard up with you because she probably feels that you have to take sides and you are going to take your husbands side... I think this is something you have to get resolved or it will only fester....Confront your husband and don't accuse him but rather ask for his help to prove it didn't happen so you can help your daughter. If he refuses, more than likely he is guilty.. What father wouldn't do anything for his girl--anything! If he is innocent he shouldn't have a prpblem taking a lie detector test.
Sorry to be so long, its just that this is still a hot topic with me even at this very moment. My heart goes out to you and your daughter...
This also caused problems with my mother and myself. I think we get upset because we believe they were suppose to protect us when we are kids and they failed. I went to counseling for years and my doc ask me what good would it do to tell my mother, it was so long ago that I should just forget it. Unfortunately I can't forget it. Putting it plainly, it messed me up real bad. I did confront my mother and she denied knowing anything.. Somehow I still don't believe her because it stopped as suddenly as it started.
If you don't mind my giving advice. Have you confronted your husband? If he loves you and your daughter he should be willing to take a lie detector test. I know sounds kinda crazy, but if I could get my brother to take one, my name would be clear. Perhaps she could take one also... Its such a delicate subject its really hard to say.
People also worry...What if he takes the test and fails. Will he do something bad to himself? My family would rather call me a liar than face the fact that we have an abuser in the family. Its easier to support him than it is me. The reason, well, "we don't do that in this family"... we did and I am paying the price. From reading your story, I understand your daughters anger etc..... I don't think she is angry with you as much as she is the situation. She has her guard up with you because she probably feels that you have to take sides and you are going to take your husbands side... I think this is something you have to get resolved or it will only fester....Confront your husband and don't accuse him but rather ask for his help to prove it didn't happen so you can help your daughter. If he refuses, more than likely he is guilty.. What father wouldn't do anything for his girl--anything! If he is innocent he shouldn't have a prpblem taking a lie detector test.
Sorry to be so long, its just that this is still a hot topic with me even at this very moment. My heart goes out to you and your daughter...
2 Comments
Petie6147,
Your family sounds similar to mine. My mother was a narcissist and made two of her children Golden Children and the middle ones were abused and yet told we were never abused and made it up.
My middle brother watched in horror as my whole family mentally/emotionally abused me on a regular basis. He couldn't stop it because of constant threat of physical abuse by our dad. My middle brother was the only child in the family to be physically abused by our dad.
My mother disbelieved me and sided with my older brother who molested me. That ended the relationship with my mother. It was on shaky ground due to her personality disorders, NPD and OCPD.
I was referred to by everyone in my family as the "crazy one" and that everyone should keep their distance. My middle brother has been the only one to keep in touch with me.
After my mother died, my family has kept that same behavior. It's sad because even after the narcissist is gone the family system stays dysfunctional.
The only healthy child is the Scapegoat (me) because they leave the family system.
Your family sounds similar to mine. My mother was a narcissist and made two of her children Golden Children and the middle ones were abused and yet told we were never abused and made it up.
My middle brother watched in horror as my whole family mentally/emotionally abused me on a regular basis. He couldn't stop it because of constant threat of physical abuse by our dad. My middle brother was the only child in the family to be physically abused by our dad.
My mother disbelieved me and sided with my older brother who molested me. That ended the relationship with my mother. It was on shaky ground due to her personality disorders, NPD and OCPD.
I was referred to by everyone in my family as the "crazy one" and that everyone should keep their distance. My middle brother has been the only one to keep in touch with me.
After my mother died, my family has kept that same behavior. It's sad because even after the narcissist is gone the family system stays dysfunctional.
The only healthy child is the Scapegoat (me) because they leave the family system.
This is so sad and it sounds like you have worked your way through a lot of childhood trauma so good for you.
Petie, thank you for taking the time to share and I'm so sorry for what happened to you. Children should never have to endure such pain. I am heartbroken to think my own child did and I did not protect her. I cry thinking that she thinks I would look the other way because I would never. I have confronted my husband and went back and forth believing them because they are both so convincing. She refuses to confront him, go to counseling or the police or take a lie detector test where as he is willing to do any and did go to the police but only a victim can open a case. He has scheduled a polygraph for next week and says he will be exonerated but nobody will ever look at him the same again after what she has done. It's all so sad either way.
Thank you Rosa. I know what you say is true statistically but sometimes it does happen and I want to know the truth. He will take a polygraph next week but she refuses to take any action - not that it makes her the one lying. Since you have been through this, can I ask you something that I keep thinking of - she says it happened for a few years when she was like 5-7 but her whole life was daddys girl and wrote him (not me) these sweet letters all the time even up to 18 years old saying he was her favorite person in the world and she wanted find a man just like him to be the father of her children. Does that seem odd to you, can you imaging writing something like that to your dad?
MOM, the way you describe the incidents, I 100% believe her. Women do have "found" memories, that are often untrue, but she's got a clear memory of times when you know they were alone in bed.
Sexual abuse is so difficult. You ask is it odd that she wrote those love letters to him, and no, it makes it even more likely that it's true. It's a twisty, sad dynamic that girls who have been molested often want nothing as much as they want the approval of their molester, if he is someone they loved to begin with.
And they blame others who did nothing, and knew nothing.
Children who are abused and then immediately make an outcry, and get help and the abuse ends, usually fare pretty well. They heal pretty well and feel empowered by their own actions.
Children who don't make an outcry, and in fact take actions to facilitate the abuse (he continuing to come into bed with you for years after the first incident) fare very poorly. Although it's not their fault, they are left with the feeling of "why did I do that"? "why didn't I try to make it stop"?
Is your daughter in therapy?
Sexual abuse is so difficult. You ask is it odd that she wrote those love letters to him, and no, it makes it even more likely that it's true. It's a twisty, sad dynamic that girls who have been molested often want nothing as much as they want the approval of their molester, if he is someone they loved to begin with.
And they blame others who did nothing, and knew nothing.
Children who are abused and then immediately make an outcry, and get help and the abuse ends, usually fare pretty well. They heal pretty well and feel empowered by their own actions.
Children who don't make an outcry, and in fact take actions to facilitate the abuse (he continuing to come into bed with you for years after the first incident) fare very poorly. Although it's not their fault, they are left with the feeling of "why did I do that"? "why didn't I try to make it stop"?
Is your daughter in therapy?
1 Comments
I have offered to pay for therapy to both of my children but they don't want to. I have gone but should go back again.
Okay, so i have a different take on this. I grew up in a co dependent home. Lot's of chaos. It affected all four children differently. One an addict (myself) my step brother an alcoholic, my brother a wife beater, and my sister a compulsive liar and manipulator. My sister had a laundy list of people abusing her "sexually", Then i grew up and there came a time when i was in her world. She took a great deal of time trying to get me to say that i had been sexually abused by my father. My father was a major prick, however, he never sexually assaulted me. She hated him and wanted him to pay for pass deeds that didn't suit her. Then, my son was born. And my sister, in an attempt to have me ousted out of my son's life, called the authorities and said that my son had been abused by my "friends" It took some time to go through the process, but it was found "unfounded" What they call "unfounded" i call out and out lying by a messed up manipulator.
So that's my story.
Your husband is willing to exonerate himself. And your daughter is not. I'm pretty sure that it will become clear that your daughter is lying, at least about her dad. I doubt very much your daughter will take the test, but if she does, perhaps it would be beneficial to have the question's asked about the others who '"allegedly" raped or molested her. For her benefit, it would be healthy to know if your daughter may need help herself. I think this may be a case of young lady looking for attention, or the fall of another, and that she might need help herself.
I do not automatically believe adult children. And would need proof of their convictions before destroying a person's life. Not only that, i'd be sure to discuss it with them in no uncertain terms. "You have an opportunity to prove what you are saying, the fact that you are not, is suspect, to say the least".
Just another opinion, based on experience.
So that's my story.
Your husband is willing to exonerate himself. And your daughter is not. I'm pretty sure that it will become clear that your daughter is lying, at least about her dad. I doubt very much your daughter will take the test, but if she does, perhaps it would be beneficial to have the question's asked about the others who '"allegedly" raped or molested her. For her benefit, it would be healthy to know if your daughter may need help herself. I think this may be a case of young lady looking for attention, or the fall of another, and that she might need help herself.
I do not automatically believe adult children. And would need proof of their convictions before destroying a person's life. Not only that, i'd be sure to discuss it with them in no uncertain terms. "You have an opportunity to prove what you are saying, the fact that you are not, is suspect, to say the least".
Just another opinion, based on experience.
1 Comments
Thank you NightHawk for adding another perspective. I do believe my daughter may be manipulating us all but don't understand what the end game would be in destroying our family. Even relatives who originally stood by her side (some who are abuse survivors themselves) later decided due to things she said and did that they thought she was lying. Only her brother believes her.
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